The most important rule: Do not, I repeat, do not censor yourself in any way. Leave your editorial mind out of the loop. Just let the ideas come pouring out in any way, shape, or form they want to. Do not judge anything.

My philosophy on writing books is that if you learn only one new thing, or even get a new take on something you already know, it's worth it.

In fact, one could argue that the skill of the fiction writer boils down to the ability to exploit intensity.

The semi-colon is a burp, a hiccup. It's a drunk staggering out of the saloon at 2 a.m., grabbing your lapels on the way and asking you to listen to one more story.

Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge.

Think of it as the Doorway of No Return. The feeling must be that your lead character, once she passes through, cannot go home again until the major problem of the plot is solved.

There's a perilous word fiction writers need to watch out for. The word is 'had.'